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Shadows of the Tenebris Court #2
A Touch of Poison
En Elfhame, où les mensonges sont aussi acérés que des lames, il n'existe pas de plus grande faiblesse que celle d'avoir un coeur...
Ébranlée par les révélations de Bastian, Kat se réveille de sa maladie résolue à rester loin de celui qui l'a trahie. Mais le destin en a décidé autrement. Kat est piégée au royaume des faes, liée à Bastian, car lui seul peut contenir le poison qui la ronge.
En Elfhame, les cours de l'Aube et du Crépuscule se livrent à une dangereuse danse depuis des siècles, un enchaînement de complots et de trahisons sous une paix de façade. À présent, cet équilibre précaire est menacé : un mystérieux groupe rebelle a infiltré la capitale, et l'on raconte qu'il existe une relique ancienne capable de bouleverser le rapport de force.
Kat et Bastian, propulsés malgré eux au coeur de cette lutte, doivent faire la lumière sur de sombres secrets, mais aussi sur leurs sentiments. Leur survie en dépend... tout comme celle du peuple fae lui-même.
Ébranlée par les révélations de Bastian, Kat se réveille de sa maladie résolue à rester loin de celui qui l'a trahie. Mais le destin en a décidé autrement. Kat est piégée au royaume des faes, liée à Bastian, car lui seul peut contenir le poison qui la ronge.
En Elfhame, les cours de l'Aube et du Crépuscule se livrent à une dangereuse danse depuis des siècles, un enchaînement de complots et de trahisons sous une paix de façade. À présent, cet équilibre précaire est menacé : un mystérieux groupe rebelle a infiltré la capitale, et l'on raconte qu'il existe une relique ancienne capable de bouleverser le rapport de force.
Kat et Bastian, propulsés malgré eux au coeur de cette lutte, doivent faire la lumière sur de sombres secrets, mais aussi sur leurs sentiments. Leur survie en dépend... tout comme celle du peuple fae lui-même.
672 pages, Hardcover
First published October 12, 2023
2687 people are currently reading
16905 people want to read
About the author
Clare Sager
21 books1,806 followersClare Sager writes darkly addictive romantasy full of slow-burn steam, gut-wrenching conflict, and morally grey *everybody*. Dubbed the Queen of Edging by readers, she takes no responsibility for lost sleep or therapy bills.
When she’s not breaking hearts with her Shadows of the Tenebris Court series, Clare can usually be found drinking coffee, lifting weights, or impulse-buying stationery.
She lives in Nottingham, Robin Hood country, so it’s no surprise she writes about characters who don’t always play by the rules.
When she’s not breaking hearts with her Shadows of the Tenebris Court series, Clare can usually be found drinking coffee, lifting weights, or impulse-buying stationery.
She lives in Nottingham, Robin Hood country, so it’s no surprise she writes about characters who don’t always play by the rules.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,422 reviews
October 15, 2023
"This was not the innocent Lady Katherine Ferrers.
This was my ember."
Woah that was a wild ride and that cliffhanger 😭😭😩
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Both of them grovel
✔️ Only one bed
✔️ Shadow daddy
✔️ Angsty
The sequel had the right amount of character growth, plot, relationship development, and action.
I loved Bastian and his shadows and his shadow play 👀🥵 His love for Kat in this book shines. I loved how patient he was, how open he was and always looking out for her.
But mostly I loved Kat. I was not too impressed with her character growth in the first book but the way she developed in this one was so worth reading. Her struggles were presented in such a raw manner I loved it. She is the hero in this book 🤩
I loved how both of them groveled. It's so rare for authors to write both the fmc and mmc doing that, which is why I appreciated it a lot more. The romance was so swoon worthy and the spice was juicy, especially the shadow play 👀🥵
It could have been a five star read for me if-
1. The book had been shorter. It could have been easily 200 pages shorter imo. Although I understand the author wanted to show Kat and Bastian develop properly, it really didn't need to and some scenes could have been taken out.
2. The pacing slowed down in the middle quite a lot.
I liked the cliffhanger, can't wait for the next one. That one surely makes it to my anticipated read list.
I need me a shadow daddy after a bad read
This was my ember."
Woah that was a wild ride and that cliffhanger 😭😭😩
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Both of them grovel
✔️ Only one bed
✔️ Shadow daddy
✔️ Angsty
The sequel had the right amount of character growth, plot, relationship development, and action.
I loved Bastian and his shadows and his shadow play 👀🥵 His love for Kat in this book shines. I loved how patient he was, how open he was and always looking out for her.
But mostly I loved Kat. I was not too impressed with her character growth in the first book but the way she developed in this one was so worth reading. Her struggles were presented in such a raw manner I loved it. She is the hero in this book 🤩
I loved how both of them groveled. It's so rare for authors to write both the fmc and mmc doing that, which is why I appreciated it a lot more. The romance was so swoon worthy and the spice was juicy, especially the shadow play 👀🥵
It could have been a five star read for me if-
1. The book had been shorter. It could have been easily 200 pages shorter imo. Although I understand the author wanted to show Kat and Bastian develop properly, it really didn't need to and some scenes could have been taken out.
2. The pacing slowed down in the middle quite a lot.
I liked the cliffhanger, can't wait for the next one. That one surely makes it to my anticipated read list.
I need me a shadow daddy after a bad read
October 23, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ I LOVE Bastian and Kat. This is one of my favourite romantasy series now (waiting for book 3 might actually kill me)
October 12, 2023
5 Idiot Shadow Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. PERFECT!!! There is no other way to describe this.
If you have to look at the dictionary definition of the word perfect, it does not say having all the acquired or desirable elements, qualities and characteristics. As good as it could possibly be, being free of defects.
NO! It will just be the cover of this book! Because this book is the LITERAL DEFINITION of PERFECTION!!!!
This book is also just a brilliant (perfect) fantasy romance! It's just perfection wrapped up in the most beautiful, perfect, purple bow. If it is not clear by the amount of perfect... it just exemplifies WHY I love fantasy romance. It ticked every single box that I needed to be ticked, from mindblowing plot, characterisation, worldbuilding and smut... it had it all!
This book starts off exactly where the previous book ends, and dives right into the consequences of what happened at the end of A Kiss of Iron. Kat and Bastian find themselves in Elfhame, thrust into navigating their forbidden attraction while dealing with the full politics of the Dusk and Dawn Court.
This took the worldbuilding up so many notches! As the previous book happened in the Human world, there wasn't as much insight into the Fae Court and Magic. Now we are neck deep, and if you LOVE political intrigue in your books, this has your name written all over it!
We also see so much development of Kat's character. I admit I didn't always like her in the previous book, I wanted her to be able to stand up for herself! I wanted her to learn to be strong and confident and be her own person. It felt like Clare looked at my exact feedback and everything I had an issue with about her was addressed. She grows so much and goes through a difficult emotional journey. It is not always easy as she does deal with some dark thoughts, but her stubbornness and vulnerability make her so real, that through everything she endures she truly became the role model I needed her to be from the start.
We are also treated to the lovely POV of the bestest Shadow Daddy out there...BASTIAN! To see more of this man's thoughts and have that front-row seat to his emotional struggle with his feelings and desires while he struggles with the impossibility of breaking his moral code due to her marriage... was top-tier and absolutely stunning writing.
I quite frankly think this was the best book I have read in 2023. I adored every aspect of this and I know for a fact that I will be bullying every single person that I know into reading this book and this series.
The tropes to look forward to are:
▶ SUPER SEXY SHADOW DADDY
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Court Intrigue
▶ Found Family
▶ Slow Burn
▶ OneBed Hayloft
▶ One Horse
▶ Hidden Powers
▶ Touch her you die
You'll also be happy to know that the queen of edging has rectified her ways and there is indeed SHADOW DADDY PENIS!
So many thanks to Clare Sager for the gifted ARC!
All thoughts and feelings in this review are my own
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. PERFECT!!! There is no other way to describe this.
If you have to look at the dictionary definition of the word perfect, it does not say having all the acquired or desirable elements, qualities and characteristics. As good as it could possibly be, being free of defects.
NO! It will just be the cover of this book! Because this book is the LITERAL DEFINITION of PERFECTION!!!!
This book is also just a brilliant (perfect) fantasy romance! It's just perfection wrapped up in the most beautiful, perfect, purple bow. If it is not clear by the amount of perfect... it just exemplifies WHY I love fantasy romance. It ticked every single box that I needed to be ticked, from mindblowing plot, characterisation, worldbuilding and smut... it had it all!
This book starts off exactly where the previous book ends, and dives right into the consequences of what happened at the end of A Kiss of Iron. Kat and Bastian find themselves in Elfhame, thrust into navigating their forbidden attraction while dealing with the full politics of the Dusk and Dawn Court.
This took the worldbuilding up so many notches! As the previous book happened in the Human world, there wasn't as much insight into the Fae Court and Magic. Now we are neck deep, and if you LOVE political intrigue in your books, this has your name written all over it!
We also see so much development of Kat's character. I admit I didn't always like her in the previous book, I wanted her to be able to stand up for herself! I wanted her to learn to be strong and confident and be her own person. It felt like Clare looked at my exact feedback and everything I had an issue with about her was addressed. She grows so much and goes through a difficult emotional journey. It is not always easy as she does deal with some dark thoughts, but her stubbornness and vulnerability make her so real, that through everything she endures she truly became the role model I needed her to be from the start.
We are also treated to the lovely POV of the bestest Shadow Daddy out there...BASTIAN! To see more of this man's thoughts and have that front-row seat to his emotional struggle with his feelings and desires while he struggles with the impossibility of breaking his moral code due to her marriage... was top-tier and absolutely stunning writing.
I quite frankly think this was the best book I have read in 2023. I adored every aspect of this and I know for a fact that I will be bullying every single person that I know into reading this book and this series.
The tropes to look forward to are:
▶ SUPER SEXY SHADOW DADDY
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Court Intrigue
▶ Found Family
▶ Slow Burn
▶ One
▶ One Horse
▶ Hidden Powers
▶ Touch her you die
You'll also be happy to know that the queen of edging has rectified her ways and there is indeed SHADOW DADDY PENIS!
So many thanks to Clare Sager for the gifted ARC!
All thoughts and feelings in this review are my own
October 15, 2023
Barely made it to the end.
Loved Kat’s journey to recovery and embracing her female rage but Bastian lost his Shadow Daddy sparkle and the whole story felt just all over the place. I know its mostly due to it being the 2nd book but with all these threads dangling i just lost any interest in following them.
Also, Kat being constantly passed around while fighting for her independence and to not be viewed or treated like an object, really pisses me off.
The 3rd book is set to come out end of June next year and im not sure ill be able to convince myself to give it a read.
Loved Kat’s journey to recovery and embracing her female rage but Bastian lost his Shadow Daddy sparkle and the whole story felt just all over the place. I know its mostly due to it being the 2nd book but with all these threads dangling i just lost any interest in following them.
Also, Kat being constantly passed around while fighting for her independence and to not be viewed or treated like an object, really pisses me off.
The 3rd book is set to come out end of June next year and im not sure ill be able to convince myself to give it a read.
October 19, 2023
Slow starting
Miscommunication trope so far.
Man this is boring. I usually read a book in two days and this one is going on day six. 😵💫
I think 8th grade me would have enjoyed this not present day me.
Quick summary: if you loved the bastian shadow daddy tension from book one?prepare to be disappointed. He is so boring in this.
Mc and bastian are not even really speaking to each other despite LIVING together?? Bastian seems to blindly lick his queens feet. So far it’s suffering from second book syndrome.
The whole “slow burn” story line of why they are not getting together is based on this: bastian doesn’t like that she is married. That’s the whole plot.
Certain scenes feels like a knockoff of Harry Potter going to ollivanders to chose his wand & there is a dog named fluffy. Except in this case she is choosing a bow as her weapon.
Chapter 17 is where I am currently at and no spice yet and not much plot progression
You know how a book is so good you stay up late when your supposed to be sleeping because you have important stuff to do? Yeah. It’s not like that at all so far.
Reading update: currently on chapter 60. SIXTY.
Here’s the deal: she is now cursed with poison in her body and the only antidote she has is touching Bastian once per day. It can be just touching with your pointer finger and that is enough.
The author is making it to where she has to be near him. Bastian however has a hang up on breaking oaths because he is fae so he doesn’t want to touch her sexually because she is married.
So we are getting a lot of slow burn from the author but it is boring to be honest. However he just touched her with his shadows but honestly if he can make her go off five times using his shadows it’s the same as the real thing.
It is the author trying to stretch the slow burn out too long. Instead of me being excited for the slow burn I am just bored 😐 Badly executed burn if I just want them to get it over with instead of being excited for it.
Kat also doesn’t do anything? She doesn’t really have a job/purpose/point in this book. I think that’s why I am not liking it.
She pines for bastian, tries to cure her poison, removes her memories, doesn’t talk to bastian over and over again. Then she pines some more for bastian, tries to cure the poison, complains about the memories, doesn’t talk to bastian over and over and over.
Still hopeful it will improve and be more like book one since I am still reading. Really can’t see myself caring about the next book which I usually don’t say when I have invested this much time in a book. We will see.
Update‼️‼️‼️‼️
I just finished and I am so relieved.
There isn’t anything wrong with this book first of all.
It is just entirely too long winded.
It didn’t improve.
It is just way too long for no reason.
Don’t care if I do or do not read the next one.
It ended on a good cliffhanger but damn. Talk about exhausted
Miscommunication trope so far.
Man this is boring. I usually read a book in two days and this one is going on day six. 😵💫
I think 8th grade me would have enjoyed this not present day me.
Quick summary: if you loved the bastian shadow daddy tension from book one?prepare to be disappointed. He is so boring in this.
Mc and bastian are not even really speaking to each other despite LIVING together?? Bastian seems to blindly lick his queens feet. So far it’s suffering from second book syndrome.
The whole “slow burn” story line of why they are not getting together is based on this: bastian doesn’t like that she is married. That’s the whole plot.
Certain scenes feels like a knockoff of Harry Potter going to ollivanders to chose his wand & there is a dog named fluffy. Except in this case she is choosing a bow as her weapon.
Chapter 17 is where I am currently at and no spice yet and not much plot progression
You know how a book is so good you stay up late when your supposed to be sleeping because you have important stuff to do? Yeah. It’s not like that at all so far.
Reading update: currently on chapter 60. SIXTY.
Here’s the deal: she is now cursed with poison in her body and the only antidote she has is touching Bastian once per day. It can be just touching with your pointer finger and that is enough.
The author is making it to where she has to be near him. Bastian however has a hang up on breaking oaths because he is fae so he doesn’t want to touch her sexually because she is married.
So we are getting a lot of slow burn from the author but it is boring to be honest. However he just touched her with his shadows but honestly if he can make her go off five times using his shadows it’s the same as the real thing.
It is the author trying to stretch the slow burn out too long. Instead of me being excited for the slow burn I am just bored 😐 Badly executed burn if I just want them to get it over with instead of being excited for it.
Kat also doesn’t do anything? She doesn’t really have a job/purpose/point in this book. I think that’s why I am not liking it.
She pines for bastian, tries to cure her poison, removes her memories, doesn’t talk to bastian over and over again. Then she pines some more for bastian, tries to cure the poison, complains about the memories, doesn’t talk to bastian over and over and over.
Still hopeful it will improve and be more like book one since I am still reading. Really can’t see myself caring about the next book which I usually don’t say when I have invested this much time in a book. We will see.
Update‼️‼️‼️‼️
I just finished and I am so relieved.
There isn’t anything wrong with this book first of all.
It is just entirely too long winded.
It didn’t improve.
It is just way too long for no reason.
Don’t care if I do or do not read the next one.
It ended on a good cliffhanger but damn. Talk about exhausted
April 11, 2025
I genuinely think this is a me thing, but this book was *so slow* that i stopped caring, and I am
really sad about it.
I felt this could’ve been so condensed, as by the time we got to 70%-ish in I was ready to be done. The plot felt very repetitive, and the characters tension was self inflicted the whole time, which made it less tension-filled, and more just frustrating to me.
I do love Bastian and Kat, and overall I love their love story. I also love this world and the side characters, but idk if I am ready/want to continue with this series.
It had a strong start, but the book felt so long, I think book was a 3.25 star rating for me. Maybe it’s the mood I’m in and I’ll change it, who knows?
really sad about it.
I felt this could’ve been so condensed, as by the time we got to 70%-ish in I was ready to be done. The plot felt very repetitive, and the characters tension was self inflicted the whole time, which made it less tension-filled, and more just frustrating to me.
I do love Bastian and Kat, and overall I love their love story. I also love this world and the side characters, but idk if I am ready/want to continue with this series.
It had a strong start, but the book felt so long, I think book was a 3.25 star rating for me. Maybe it’s the mood I’m in and I’ll change it, who knows?
October 30, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
I love the nuance of Clare’s writing.
The growth of the fmcs character & the relationship development between the two MC’s was perfection.
I love the inclusivity of her world.
How she manages to convey trauma & trauma responses is what will keep me going back to reading her work over & over again. Her two main characters Bastian and Kat have to be some of my all time favourites! I just LOVE THEM!
Also her SPICE 🤌🏽
I felt that all the pieces where there in this book to make it a 5 star read like book one. For me though I found the pacing a little off with some repetition which didn’t feel needed.
I also felt that there were some scenes that happened after the 50% mark that should have happened a lot earlier - this would have explained some of the characters motivations for me a lot sooner which I felt would have stopped the unnecessary questions or disbelief of certain motivations.
Overall I can’t wait to see how this trilogy will finish with the next book.
This is still a stand out fantasy romance series for me & I highly recommend.
I love the nuance of Clare’s writing.
The growth of the fmcs character & the relationship development between the two MC’s was perfection.
I love the inclusivity of her world.
How she manages to convey trauma & trauma responses is what will keep me going back to reading her work over & over again. Her two main characters Bastian and Kat have to be some of my all time favourites! I just LOVE THEM!
Also her SPICE 🤌🏽
I felt that all the pieces where there in this book to make it a 5 star read like book one. For me though I found the pacing a little off with some repetition which didn’t feel needed.
I also felt that there were some scenes that happened after the 50% mark that should have happened a lot earlier - this would have explained some of the characters motivations for me a lot sooner which I felt would have stopped the unnecessary questions or disbelief of certain motivations.
Overall I can’t wait to see how this trilogy will finish with the next book.
This is still a stand out fantasy romance series for me & I highly recommend.
October 26, 2023
This is a 700 page book about how many different ways Kat & Bastian can't/won't/shouldn't be together.
700. HUNDRED. PAGES.
The entire marriage/divorce plot line needed to go. A) why the fuck would the fae care, and b) girl, just write your damn letter to the queen and ask for the divorce already!!! It just seemed that at every turn, there was some new thing keeping these 2 apart. So if the point was to frustrate the shit out of us, I guess it was successful??
700. HUNDRED. PAGES.
The entire marriage/divorce plot line needed to go. A) why the fuck would the fae care, and b) girl, just write your damn letter to the queen and ask for the divorce already!!! It just seemed that at every turn, there was some new thing keeping these 2 apart. So if the point was to frustrate the shit out of us, I guess it was successful??
November 29, 2023
2.5 ✩
𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗂𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖨 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗁𝗎𝗇𝖽𝗋𝖾𝖽𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗉𝖺𝗀𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗍 𝖿𝖾𝗅𝗍 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗅𝗒 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝖾𝗇𝖾𝖽? 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗈𝗈𝗈 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽. 𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗆𝖾 𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖽.
𝖧𝗈𝗐 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗂𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖨 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗁𝗎𝗇𝖽𝗋𝖾𝖽𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗉𝖺𝗀𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗍 𝖿𝖾𝗅𝗍 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝗅𝗒 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝖾𝗇𝖾𝖽? 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗈𝗈𝗈 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽. 𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗅𝖾𝗍 𝗆𝖾 𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖽.
May 31, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ Clare Sager say psych RIGHT NOW. Because that ending?!!! My brain mentally cannot process the plot twist and cliff hanger I’m currently dangling from!
Kats growth was INCREDIBLE. Watching her work through her pain and trauma and uncover the strong bad ass of a women she is was so god damn empowering wow. She absolutely goes through it in this book and some scenes absolutely destroyed me but her strength and bravery pieced me back together.
Talk about the SLOWEST of the slow burns oh my goodness I ate it up. After what Kat and Bastian went through in the last book I was worried there was going to be a lot of miscommunication and back and forth with them and I’m so happy that was not at all the case. Their relationship was like a slow climb that kept getting stronger and stronger as the book went on and I absolutely LOVE THEM! Bastian worships the grown Kat walks on and supports her and her independence. I love how he is there for her every step of the way but reminds her that she’s in charge and never takes the reins from her.
The found family in this book was SO GOOD! I love love love the side characters and the female relationships that developed throughout.
This book wasn’t 5 stars for me for the same reason as the first book, it dragged a bit in the middle and could have definitely been shorter, but the pacing issues weren’t enough to take away from the story!
Also the spice in this series… immaculate.
Kats growth was INCREDIBLE. Watching her work through her pain and trauma and uncover the strong bad ass of a women she is was so god damn empowering wow. She absolutely goes through it in this book and some scenes absolutely destroyed me but her strength and bravery pieced me back together.
Talk about the SLOWEST of the slow burns oh my goodness I ate it up. After what Kat and Bastian went through in the last book I was worried there was going to be a lot of miscommunication and back and forth with them and I’m so happy that was not at all the case. Their relationship was like a slow climb that kept getting stronger and stronger as the book went on and I absolutely LOVE THEM! Bastian worships the grown Kat walks on and supports her and her independence. I love how he is there for her every step of the way but reminds her that she’s in charge and never takes the reins from her.
The found family in this book was SO GOOD! I love love love the side characters and the female relationships that developed throughout.
This book wasn’t 5 stars for me for the same reason as the first book, it dragged a bit in the middle and could have definitely been shorter, but the pacing issues weren’t enough to take away from the story!
Also the spice in this series… immaculate.
June 3, 2024
Kat and Bastian 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Their quotes. Their spice. The way they support each other. Can’t wait for book 3
Their quotes. Their spice. The way they support each other. Can’t wait for book 3
June 4, 2025
This trilogy is very very fun! I’m a bit devastated to realize the final audio isn’t out yet but I’ll probably just barrel through & eyeball read because I’m mad at that ending 😆. I’d say this is a solid 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Plot, pros, cons, & spoilers 👇🏼
PLOT
Kat has been taken to the fae realm after having consumed poison to save Bastian, but healing her isn’t so simple. The poison is eating her alive & also preventing her from touching anyone. Except for Bastian, who she also needs to touch every day to stay alive (there’s magical reasons, you get it). But since they both know the other betrayed them, things aren’t great between them anymore. On top of managing her relationship with Bastian, she also has to learn how to politic amongst Fae courts that have their own drama. This book has
- a shadow daddy who uses his shadows 👀
- tensionnnnn
- fae & humans
- dueling fae courts, political intrigue & rebellion
- dual narration audiobook
- higher spice
PROS
- FINALLY we have a shadow daddy USING HIS SHADOWS TO MAKE US ALL SQUIRM (complimentary). Bastian js an absolute heathen (also complimentary) & he is such a hot slut (once again, complimentary) I just love him so much. His need for control in all situations gives him fully different dimensions to his character which is very fun to explore.
- Kat was MOSTLY cool but not entirely (will touch on in Mids) but again, she was mostly a good time. She really came into her own this book & I feel like she’s going to be an absolute badass next book. The thing that annoyed me seems contained to this book so no concerns continuing.
- This trilogy, for how slutty we already got in book 1, somehow works as a slow burn? Like idk how she did that but wow what an accomplishment to keep the tension bubbling over as it did??
- The end is setting up for a SIIIICK book 3 me thinks.
- Kat’s uncle & husband coming back in to act as the villain-we-know IS ANNOYING (in a good way).
MIDS
- I simply tire of an FMC who “refuses to learn her magic so she suppresses it” storyline & it was used here. It mostly made sense for her character so I’m putting this in Mids vs. Cons, but it’s just something that makes me roll my eyes every time.
CONS
- I liked the end but I also find it mildly unbelievable given the politics we’ve established. We may just need to learn more in book 3 to see how that… exchange is possible.
Excited to ride on into book 3!
⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
No for real
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- The ending… I’m pretty interested in where this takes us for book 3 but also how can she actually do that considering Kat isn’t an official member of her court?
- I think the Queen is in charge of fancy Hydra. I feel like she and new king are working together somehow.
- Omg Robin finally what he deserved was everything. He literally kept popping up at the most horrible times so I was psyched to see him get a glass to the neck.
- I will in fact be annoyed if we do a memory loss trope in book 3. I feel like it’s being set up somehow & I hope I’m wrong.
- DADDY BASTIAN WITH THE SHADOWSSSSSS. You absolute filthy legend. This is what we deserve. Can’t wait for book 3 & the inevitable uh… duality of man. 😆
PLOT
Kat has been taken to the fae realm after having consumed poison to save Bastian, but healing her isn’t so simple. The poison is eating her alive & also preventing her from touching anyone. Except for Bastian, who she also needs to touch every day to stay alive (there’s magical reasons, you get it). But since they both know the other betrayed them, things aren’t great between them anymore. On top of managing her relationship with Bastian, she also has to learn how to politic amongst Fae courts that have their own drama. This book has
- a shadow daddy who uses his shadows 👀
- tensionnnnn
- fae & humans
- dueling fae courts, political intrigue & rebellion
- dual narration audiobook
- higher spice
PROS
- FINALLY we have a shadow daddy USING HIS SHADOWS TO MAKE US ALL SQUIRM (complimentary). Bastian js an absolute heathen (also complimentary) & he is such a hot slut (once again, complimentary) I just love him so much. His need for control in all situations gives him fully different dimensions to his character which is very fun to explore.
- Kat was MOSTLY cool but not entirely (will touch on in Mids) but again, she was mostly a good time. She really came into her own this book & I feel like she’s going to be an absolute badass next book. The thing that annoyed me seems contained to this book so no concerns continuing.
- This trilogy, for how slutty we already got in book 1, somehow works as a slow burn? Like idk how she did that but wow what an accomplishment to keep the tension bubbling over as it did??
- The end is setting up for a SIIIICK book 3 me thinks.
- Kat’s uncle & husband coming back in to act as the villain-we-know IS ANNOYING (in a good way).
MIDS
- I simply tire of an FMC who “refuses to learn her magic so she suppresses it” storyline & it was used here. It mostly made sense for her character so I’m putting this in Mids vs. Cons, but it’s just something that makes me roll my eyes every time.
CONS
- I liked the end but I also find it mildly unbelievable given the politics we’ve established. We may just need to learn more in book 3 to see how that… exchange is possible.
Excited to ride on into book 3!
⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
No for real
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
- The ending… I’m pretty interested in where this takes us for book 3 but also how can she actually do that considering Kat isn’t an official member of her court?
- I think the Queen is in charge of fancy Hydra. I feel like she and new king are working together somehow.
- Omg Robin finally what he deserved was everything. He literally kept popping up at the most horrible times so I was psyched to see him get a glass to the neck.
- I will in fact be annoyed if we do a memory loss trope in book 3. I feel like it’s being set up somehow & I hope I’m wrong.
- DADDY BASTIAN WITH THE SHADOWSSSSSS. You absolute filthy legend. This is what we deserve. Can’t wait for book 3 & the inevitable uh… duality of man. 😆
January 5, 2025
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. It seemed so obvious to me who was behind the attacks. I guessed it pretty early on. And Bastian sort of let me down. He didn't technically do anything wrong in this book, but I prefer reading about couples who will do anything for each other, especially to protect each other, and unfortunately, Bastian cares more about duty. Again, there's technically nothing wrong with that, and it's honorable, but it's not quite as romantic or all-consuming as other love stories. I did like Kat's growth in this novel though. I also really like Kaliban and I think I have a pretty good guess at who he is. But I wish we got to know Kat's friends better. I don't like that it seems like the author has separate series for them and just doesn't want to reveal too much in this one. And I'm happy for Kat and Bastian, and everyone is entitled to their own kinks/sexual preferences so long as all the involved parties consent, but I personally hate anything involving BDSM/dominance/control, so I skimmed through a lot of that.
October 4, 2023
"Katherine," I said against her ear. I couldn't stop saying her name-my damnation, my salvation, my everything in between.
*deep breath* … *screaming* 🧎♀️🧎♀️🧎♀️🧎♀️
🐍 TROPES & THEMES 🐍
✔️ slow burn deliciousness
✔️ hidden powers
✔️ tension omfg so 👏🏻 much 👏🏻 tension 👏🏻
✔️ Court Drama - Fae Edition
✔️ Dual POV
✔️ the best shadow daddy ever
✔️ spice. AND ITS SO GOOD!
✔️ healing journey, the not so pretty bits and all ❤️🩹
✔️ touch her and 💀
✔️ sisterhood and amazing friends
Got dangit Clare, you did it AGAIN. I do not think I will ever recover from this book. And I’m okay with this. This book is a beastie, but Clare slipped something extra in the pages and made it bingeable for everyone. No, I’m serious. You won’t be able to put this book down. And when you do, it’ll haunt your thoughts and dreams until you go back. It is, quite literally, “Kat Nip”.
This book picks up right where AKOI left off, and it gives you all the same feelings from the first - but MORE. So much more!! More angst, more drama, more Kat overcoming her inner thoughts and demons to become the best version of herself that I just KNOW all my fellow people pleasers aspire to be like… and if you’re here for one answer and one answer only - im happy to report that the slow burn does pay off. *blasts hype horn*
we delve into elfhame this time around, and we get to see and witness first hand the inner workings of the Dusk and Dawn courts. Kat learns to deal with and control her new, ahh, conditions. Bastian goes back to being the queen’s shadow while trying to make sure his gloriously thick thighed other queen stays safe and okay.
Oh my gosh, this book has me WEAK. I have no other thoughts, just this book. Clare’s ability to write book series that makes you laugh out loud one moment, and shield your kindle the next is unparalleled.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, but if anything it left me fired up and hype (as usual 🤣) for the third book in this trilogy.
Clare continues to stay in my top all-time favorite authors, and this book further solidified that.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS, clear your schedules, set your kids on autopilot - on 10/12 you must pick up this book and submerge yourself asap. Thank me later.
*deep breath* … *screaming* 🧎♀️🧎♀️🧎♀️🧎♀️
🐍 TROPES & THEMES 🐍
✔️ slow burn deliciousness
✔️ hidden powers
✔️ tension omfg so 👏🏻 much 👏🏻 tension 👏🏻
✔️ Court Drama - Fae Edition
✔️ Dual POV
✔️ the best shadow daddy ever
✔️ spice. AND ITS SO GOOD!
✔️ healing journey, the not so pretty bits and all ❤️🩹
✔️ touch her and 💀
✔️ sisterhood and amazing friends
Got dangit Clare, you did it AGAIN. I do not think I will ever recover from this book. And I’m okay with this. This book is a beastie, but Clare slipped something extra in the pages and made it bingeable for everyone. No, I’m serious. You won’t be able to put this book down. And when you do, it’ll haunt your thoughts and dreams until you go back. It is, quite literally, “Kat Nip”.
This book picks up right where AKOI left off, and it gives you all the same feelings from the first - but MORE. So much more!! More angst, more drama, more Kat overcoming her inner thoughts and demons to become the best version of herself that I just KNOW all my fellow people pleasers aspire to be like… and if you’re here for one answer and one answer only - im happy to report that the slow burn does pay off. *blasts hype horn*
we delve into elfhame this time around, and we get to see and witness first hand the inner workings of the Dusk and Dawn courts. Kat learns to deal with and control her new, ahh, conditions. Bastian goes back to being the queen’s shadow while trying to make sure his gloriously thick thighed other queen stays safe and okay.
Oh my gosh, this book has me WEAK. I have no other thoughts, just this book. Clare’s ability to write book series that makes you laugh out loud one moment, and shield your kindle the next is unparalleled.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, but if anything it left me fired up and hype (as usual 🤣) for the third book in this trilogy.
Clare continues to stay in my top all-time favorite authors, and this book further solidified that.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS, clear your schedules, set your kids on autopilot - on 10/12 you must pick up this book and submerge yourself asap. Thank me later.
December 26, 2024
All the 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶🌶🌶🥵🥵🥵
I devoured this book, I was so honoured to be gifted an ARC of a touch of poison. Kiss of Iron was one of my fav reads of this year and this sequel DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Queen of Edging Clare Sager brought it home and I cannot wait for book 3! If you love a slow burn, touch her and die vibes you will love this series. The spice, the magic, the mystery, and the found family makes it so bingeable. Best of all a 30 year old plus size thighs for dayzzz bad ass FMC!!! Release date is October 12th...I suggest booking off work!
🌶🌶🌶🥵🥵🥵
I devoured this book, I was so honoured to be gifted an ARC of a touch of poison. Kiss of Iron was one of my fav reads of this year and this sequel DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Queen of Edging Clare Sager brought it home and I cannot wait for book 3! If you love a slow burn, touch her and die vibes you will love this series. The spice, the magic, the mystery, and the found family makes it so bingeable. Best of all a 30 year old plus size thighs for dayzzz bad ass FMC!!! Release date is October 12th...I suggest booking off work!
April 13, 2025
This series, and Clare herself, should be more popular.
October 4, 2023
Wowwww, this series is mind-blowingly good! Since A Touch of Poison is the second book in an ongoing series (and A Kiss of Iron ended on a HUGE cliffhanger), I'm going to be vague, but rest assured, if you like fae fantasy, shadow daddy MMCs, and political intrigue... you better get started on this series because it is ESSENTIAL READING.
A Touch of Poison starts right where A Kiss of Iron left off, revealing the consequences to Kat's actions at the end the story. The book primarily takes place in Elfhame this time around, so there's a lot more discussion of magic and world-building compared to book one, but it is fascinating. All sorts of complicated plots, huge secrets, and big reveals happen - literally every few chapters. Whoever was ahead in our group read would constantly be screaming for us all to catch up to discuss something crazy that popped up. There is a lot of tension between Kat and Bastian due to a pretty interesting forced proximity situation, so we get yet another serious slow burn. I think I read in the author's note that Clare's new nickname is the "Queen of Edging" - I can tell you now, this is accurate (though the spice is worth it when it happens).
I absolutely love Kat and how much she's grown throughout this series. I often find FMCs in fantasy to be annoying, but Kat is smart, strong, and has significant character growth from the first book. Bastian is the ultimate morally grey fae MMC, and I'm so relieved that he realizes that his overly honorable behavior is harming more than helping this time around. With his shadows (and other hidden assets that get revealed) he's also one of the top shadow daddies out there.
I was SO THRILLED to get the chance to read this book as an ARC, thank you so much Clare! From waffling around on reading AKOI for months (despite incessant bullying) to dropping everything to reading ATOP early - you can say I'm definitely a big fan of this series now and I'm BEGGING people to read it!
A Touch of Poison starts right where A Kiss of Iron left off, revealing the consequences to Kat's actions at the end the story. The book primarily takes place in Elfhame this time around, so there's a lot more discussion of magic and world-building compared to book one, but it is fascinating. All sorts of complicated plots, huge secrets, and big reveals happen - literally every few chapters. Whoever was ahead in our group read would constantly be screaming for us all to catch up to discuss something crazy that popped up. There is a lot of tension between Kat and Bastian due to a pretty interesting forced proximity situation, so we get yet another serious slow burn. I think I read in the author's note that Clare's new nickname is the "Queen of Edging" - I can tell you now, this is accurate (though the spice is worth it when it happens).
I absolutely love Kat and how much she's grown throughout this series. I often find FMCs in fantasy to be annoying, but Kat is smart, strong, and has significant character growth from the first book. Bastian is the ultimate morally grey fae MMC, and I'm so relieved that he realizes that his overly honorable behavior is harming more than helping this time around. With his shadows (and other hidden assets that get revealed) he's also one of the top shadow daddies out there.
I was SO THRILLED to get the chance to read this book as an ARC, thank you so much Clare! From waffling around on reading AKOI for months (despite incessant bullying) to dropping everything to reading ATOP early - you can say I'm definitely a big fan of this series now and I'm BEGGING people to read it!
June 5, 2024
An actual quote from this book: “the couple who slays together stays together” 😑
I don’t think any further explanation is needed…
I don’t think any further explanation is needed…
March 20, 2025
I’m sorry but no, I’m not doing this. They are both too stupid to live
November 21, 2023
"Because I realized there was something more important than survival...But... I don't even know what that means. I don't know who that makes me now. It had been at the core of who I was and what I did for so long. Who was I without it? What do I want, if not to survive?"
Clare… why must you hurt me like this?
A Touch of Poison not only picks up soon after the events of A Kiss of Iron, but also gives us dual POVs. I repeat: the shadow daddy gets his own perspective. Basically, as a result of Kat taking the poison and all of the different magics colliding in her body as people tried to heal her, Kat is now poisonous. Scratch that, she is poison. And Bastian is not only the only person that can touch her without LITERALLY DYING, but his touch is her antidote to the poison still in her body. Clare, I don't know how you do this. So, Kat needs to find a cure for the poison in her blood, she needs to learn how to harness said poison so she doesn't kill anyone in the meantime, and our shadow daddy needs to figure out who is behind this hydra group that is causing all kinds of trouble. (Side note, but while I like the symbolism behind why she chose "Hydra" as a name, I just can't disassociate it from Marvel.) Anyways, throughout all of this chaos, Kat and Bastian's attraction still lingers, which means Kat needs to process her feelings of betrayal, and Bastian is pining. Buckle in, girlies.
All right. I'm just going to say this here because we all know at this point I can't write coherent reviews for books I love. This book is incredible. Not just the story, but the writing itself. There are so many passages that I went back to read a second time because it was just so beautifully written or poignant. Here's one of my favorites:
“Everything between us had felt real. His outrage on my behalf. His attempts to give me something bright in the bleak grey of my existence. His kindness when I’d been so lost. Truth be told, I’d known those things were real. Always. But I’d been in denial, drowning myself in it. Because if that was all real—if what he’d told me was true… Well, I’d had something precious and beautiful, hadn’t I? And I’d lost it. They might say it was better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. But they were full of shit. I had to drag my burning eyes away, pretending to scan the countryside for danger. The only danger was here. Bastian. The fae who had been the biggest danger to me from the instant I’d met him. Oh, he was a blade all right. A blade to cut my heart out.”
Having read the Beneath Black Sails series, I was expecting a Vice and Ni 2.0 situation where Kat and Bastian go from enemies, to lovers, to enemies, to begrudging allies, to friends, to I can't even keep track. Basically, drama central (I say with love). Yet, while Kat and Bastian definitely have an emotional ride throughout these pages, it feels less like a rollercoaster and more like a steady climb. There are a lot of emotions Kat needs to work through before she can be with Bastian, but instead of fights and miscommunications and drama, it's more of an internal struggle. There's no backsliding; just a really hard, really steep climb upwards and forwards... and she does it so beautifully. I think the drama and chaos worked well in BBS because of Vice's character and the new adult demographic, and while I enjoyed it, there's something about the more mature, but a lot harder struggle in ATOP that's really sticking with me. Overall, well done.
Speaking of BBS, though, there are so many guest appearances from Clare's other books in ATOP. It almost feels like Infinity Wars with all of the couples coming together and being besties and kicking ass. I also like how Clare did this in a way where even if you haven't read the other series, you don't feel like you're missing out on any important details, which I appreciate because I'm in this category (I know what's going on my TBR, though).
I also want to give a massive well done to all of the worldbuilding Clare did here. In all of the other books I've read, Clare sprinkles in details about the world, but the focus is really on the characters. Here, though, Clare goes all out. Like, Brandon Sanderson level worldbuilding and lore. Also like Brando Sando, all of the information is integrated really well. There are no info dumps, everything made sense to me, and some of the aspects were really creative like the story behind the two serpents. But now that I've mentioned the serpent... it's time to talk about Bastian.
Bastian... you have no right being so endearingly complex. What an angstie man. What a spicy man. Clare said this was one of her spiciest books to date, and she was certainly telling the truth. My god. All of the spicy peppers. You've been warned... or maybe encouraged depending on your taste. I think at this point we know Clare has A+ romance and spice, so I don't think I even need to say anything else on that. Instead, I would like to say I thought I had Bastian figured out in AKOI, and while I was definitely correct, ATOP showed me just how many more layers there are to Bastian that I hadn't yet discovered. The need for control; the guilt; the shame of being ashamed of some things he's done but not others. I think Bastian's arc is a little less polished than Kat's and felt more like a collection of realizations about himself rather than a traceable line like with Kat, but it's solid character development, so I'll take it happily.
Overall, A Touch of Poison is a fantastic continuation of Kat and Bastian's story. I love the attention to the world, Kat and Bastian's arcs, the mystery of hydra and all of its uno reverse cards. There are some little side mysteries being set up that I feel like are pretty obvious, like the identity of Kat's mindreading friend, but I don't think they're supposed to be that obscure? Regardless, I love this book, and A Promise of Lies can't come fast enough.
A Kiss of Iron review - 5
Clare… why must you hurt me like this?
A Touch of Poison not only picks up soon after the events of A Kiss of Iron, but also gives us dual POVs. I repeat: the shadow daddy gets his own perspective. Basically, as a result of Kat taking the poison and all of the different magics colliding in her body as people tried to heal her, Kat is now poisonous. Scratch that, she is poison. And Bastian is not only the only person that can touch her without LITERALLY DYING, but his touch is her antidote to the poison still in her body. Clare, I don't know how you do this. So, Kat needs to find a cure for the poison in her blood, she needs to learn how to harness said poison so she doesn't kill anyone in the meantime, and our shadow daddy needs to figure out who is behind this hydra group that is causing all kinds of trouble. (Side note, but while I like the symbolism behind why she chose "Hydra" as a name, I just can't disassociate it from Marvel.) Anyways, throughout all of this chaos, Kat and Bastian's attraction still lingers, which means Kat needs to process her feelings of betrayal, and Bastian is pining. Buckle in, girlies.
All right. I'm just going to say this here because we all know at this point I can't write coherent reviews for books I love. This book is incredible. Not just the story, but the writing itself. There are so many passages that I went back to read a second time because it was just so beautifully written or poignant. Here's one of my favorites:
“Everything between us had felt real. His outrage on my behalf. His attempts to give me something bright in the bleak grey of my existence. His kindness when I’d been so lost. Truth be told, I’d known those things were real. Always. But I’d been in denial, drowning myself in it. Because if that was all real—if what he’d told me was true… Well, I’d had something precious and beautiful, hadn’t I? And I’d lost it. They might say it was better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. But they were full of shit. I had to drag my burning eyes away, pretending to scan the countryside for danger. The only danger was here. Bastian. The fae who had been the biggest danger to me from the instant I’d met him. Oh, he was a blade all right. A blade to cut my heart out.”
Having read the Beneath Black Sails series, I was expecting a Vice and Ni 2.0 situation where Kat and Bastian go from enemies, to lovers, to enemies, to begrudging allies, to friends, to I can't even keep track. Basically, drama central (I say with love). Yet, while Kat and Bastian definitely have an emotional ride throughout these pages, it feels less like a rollercoaster and more like a steady climb. There are a lot of emotions Kat needs to work through before she can be with Bastian, but instead of fights and miscommunications and drama, it's more of an internal struggle. There's no backsliding; just a really hard, really steep climb upwards and forwards... and she does it so beautifully. I think the drama and chaos worked well in BBS because of Vice's character and the new adult demographic, and while I enjoyed it, there's something about the more mature, but a lot harder struggle in ATOP that's really sticking with me. Overall, well done.
Speaking of BBS, though, there are so many guest appearances from Clare's other books in ATOP. It almost feels like Infinity Wars with all of the couples coming together and being besties and kicking ass. I also like how Clare did this in a way where even if you haven't read the other series, you don't feel like you're missing out on any important details, which I appreciate because I'm in this category (I know what's going on my TBR, though).
I also want to give a massive well done to all of the worldbuilding Clare did here. In all of the other books I've read, Clare sprinkles in details about the world, but the focus is really on the characters. Here, though, Clare goes all out. Like, Brandon Sanderson level worldbuilding and lore. Also like Brando Sando, all of the information is integrated really well. There are no info dumps, everything made sense to me, and some of the aspects were really creative like the story behind the two serpents. But now that I've mentioned the serpent... it's time to talk about Bastian.
Bastian... you have no right being so endearingly complex. What an angstie man. What a spicy man. Clare said this was one of her spiciest books to date, and she was certainly telling the truth. My god. All of the spicy peppers. You've been warned... or maybe encouraged depending on your taste. I think at this point we know Clare has A+ romance and spice, so I don't think I even need to say anything else on that. Instead, I would like to say I thought I had Bastian figured out in AKOI, and while I was definitely correct, ATOP showed me just how many more layers there are to Bastian that I hadn't yet discovered. The need for control; the guilt; the shame of being ashamed of some things he's done but not others. I think Bastian's arc is a little less polished than Kat's and felt more like a collection of realizations about himself rather than a traceable line like with Kat, but it's solid character development, so I'll take it happily.
Overall, A Touch of Poison is a fantastic continuation of Kat and Bastian's story. I love the attention to the world, Kat and Bastian's arcs, the mystery of hydra and all of its uno reverse cards. There are some little side mysteries being set up that I feel like are pretty obvious, like the identity of Kat's mindreading friend, but I don't think they're supposed to be that obscure? Regardless, I love this book, and A Promise of Lies can't come fast enough.
A Kiss of Iron review - 5
October 18, 2023
Wow wow wow wow. What an absolute BANGER of a sequel. I’m just sitting here in awe after reading the last page because Clare Sager is a QUEEN of fantasy romance and my mind is blown.
Kat has to play a new game at a new court, this time in Elfhame & Tenebris/Luminis, while also navigating her feelings for Bas and dealing with the consequences from the ending of A Kiss of Iron.
Kat is healing after being manipulated by men all her life and she learns to love herself. I was CHEERING for her the entire time because her growth was absolutely perfect and I loved seeing her flourish. She starts to shed her previous skin and come out of her shell and I loved it so much. The friendship she found with Rose, Ella, Ari, and Perry made my heart so happy.
Kat and Bastian relationship is slow burn with them healing from the betrayals and revelations from A Kiss of Iron. I wanted to scream at all the fae and their stupid rules about breaking contracts. Just let Kat and Bastian be together and be happy and stop being judgmental.
I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. She can’t touch anyone but him because she’s poisonous??? This trope is chefs kiss and set up for the most delicious forced proximity ever. The spice had me fanning myself and the build up was SO worth the wait. I promise you.
Bastian continues to be a highlight and I was so thankful we got his POV. A sexy, broody, spymaster, shadow daddy. What more could I ask for???
This book is PACKED full of twists and turns and trials that I never expected but was turning each page faster and faster to learn more. The cliffhanger from AKOI was resolved fairly quickly which I appreciated because we got to get into the nitty gritty of a newish plot.
We finally get to go to the fae courts. I REPEAT!!! We get to go to the fae courts and it’s so epic. The world and city is so uniquely imagined the way that the dusk and dawn courts share the same castle but is separated on different planes.
I have THEORIES and I want them confirmed ASAP. Clare knows how to perfectly drop the tiniest pieces of information that had me desperately trying to connect them all. This is the first book in a while where I was like so excited to learn if my theories were right. Clare is really just dropping all these Easter eggs and leaving us hanging. I love it but also hate it.
With 100 pages left every thing was going TOO nicely, I was wary. And I was right damn it. I didn’t want to be. The ending was heart breaking, jaw dropping, so unexpected and RUDE. Because now I won’t be able to function until I get my hands on the next book. All I have to say is that all of my babies better come out of this okay.
Anyway, A Touch of Poison solidified this as one of my FAVORITE series and y’all need to drop everything RIGHT NOW and read this series!!
Things to expect:
-Found family
-Forced proximity
-Only one bed
-Spice: 3/5
Kat has to play a new game at a new court, this time in Elfhame & Tenebris/Luminis, while also navigating her feelings for Bas and dealing with the consequences from the ending of A Kiss of Iron.
Kat is healing after being manipulated by men all her life and she learns to love herself. I was CHEERING for her the entire time because her growth was absolutely perfect and I loved seeing her flourish. She starts to shed her previous skin and come out of her shell and I loved it so much. The friendship she found with Rose, Ella, Ari, and Perry made my heart so happy.
Kat and Bastian relationship is slow burn with them healing from the betrayals and revelations from A Kiss of Iron. I wanted to scream at all the fae and their stupid rules about breaking contracts. Just let Kat and Bastian be together and be happy and stop being judgmental.
I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. She can’t touch anyone but him because she’s poisonous??? This trope is chefs kiss and set up for the most delicious forced proximity ever. The spice had me fanning myself and the build up was SO worth the wait. I promise you.
Bastian continues to be a highlight and I was so thankful we got his POV. A sexy, broody, spymaster, shadow daddy. What more could I ask for???
This book is PACKED full of twists and turns and trials that I never expected but was turning each page faster and faster to learn more. The cliffhanger from AKOI was resolved fairly quickly which I appreciated because we got to get into the nitty gritty of a newish plot.
We finally get to go to the fae courts. I REPEAT!!! We get to go to the fae courts and it’s so epic. The world and city is so uniquely imagined the way that the dusk and dawn courts share the same castle but is separated on different planes.
I have THEORIES and I want them confirmed ASAP. Clare knows how to perfectly drop the tiniest pieces of information that had me desperately trying to connect them all. This is the first book in a while where I was like so excited to learn if my theories were right. Clare is really just dropping all these Easter eggs and leaving us hanging. I love it but also hate it.
With 100 pages left every thing was going TOO nicely, I was wary. And I was right damn it. I didn’t want to be. The ending was heart breaking, jaw dropping, so unexpected and RUDE. Because now I won’t be able to function until I get my hands on the next book. All I have to say is that all of my babies better come out of this okay.
Anyway, A Touch of Poison solidified this as one of my FAVORITE series and y’all need to drop everything RIGHT NOW and read this series!!
Things to expect:
-Found family
-Forced proximity
-Only one bed
-Spice: 3/5
June 14, 2024
Geeze. What happened?! It's as if this book was written by a completely different author.
A Touch of Poison suffered from second book syndrome. There was none of the spark aand chemistry, action and suspense from the first book. Bastian and Kat were extremely dull and annoying.
Kat becoming poisonous and requiring Bastian's touch as an antidote is seriously one of the stupidest plot devices I've ever read. Reading about the two as they're barely speaking and trying to fight their circumstances was torture NOT slow burn. When I first read it, I couldn't keep myself from rolling my eyes.
I no longer felt invested in the characters and story. And this is coming from someone who LOVED the first book.
I will not be continuing on with this series. What a let down.
A Touch of Poison suffered from second book syndrome. There was none of the spark aand chemistry, action and suspense from the first book. Bastian and Kat were extremely dull and annoying.
Kat becoming poisonous and requiring Bastian's touch as an antidote is seriously one of the stupidest plot devices I've ever read. Reading about the two as they're barely speaking and trying to fight their circumstances was torture NOT slow burn. When I first read it, I couldn't keep myself from rolling my eyes.
I no longer felt invested in the characters and story. And this is coming from someone who LOVED the first book.
I will not be continuing on with this series. What a let down.
February 15, 2025
This series is absolutely consuming me! I started book 2 at 9pm last night and didn’t end up going bed until 2am because I didn’t want to put it down. I’ve now spend my entire afternoon reading it.
I absolutely loved having Bastian and Kats POV. I adore both of these guys. Their relationship is so incredibly well done. Even when there’s drama between them I love how you can still tell how much they care about each other. My heart was breaking for Kat and everything she was going through during this book.
I will say that the Robin storyline went on way too long for my taste. It seemed like a really painful plot point that added a lot of conflict and honestly I don’t think it added anything to the storyline, other than just being another obstacle for Bastian and Kat - and let’s be honest they have enough of them.
I really loved all the side characters we got introduced to in this book and I cannot wait to read more about them.
I absolutely loved having Bastian and Kats POV. I adore both of these guys. Their relationship is so incredibly well done. Even when there’s drama between them I love how you can still tell how much they care about each other. My heart was breaking for Kat and everything she was going through during this book.
I will say that the Robin storyline went on way too long for my taste. It seemed like a really painful plot point that added a lot of conflict and honestly I don’t think it added anything to the storyline, other than just being another obstacle for Bastian and Kat - and let’s be honest they have enough of them.
I really loved all the side characters we got introduced to in this book and I cannot wait to read more about them.
August 31, 2025
Zehrin Bir Dokunuşu aka 700 sayfalık işkence.
Fantastik perilerim geldiğinde hep böyle olur.. Murphy 😑
Fantastik perilerim geldiğinde hep böyle olur.. Murphy 😑
February 20, 2025
Actual rating 4.5/5 stars. This is the second instalment in the Shadows of the Tenebris Court series.
Kat sought to free herself from her debts by coming to the fae court but she never knew her heart was up for sale also. She offered it to the highest bidder and is now unsure if she can trust what he will do with it.
Bastian has been played by Kat but what games is he playing in return and is she right to be holding her heart hostage from him when he thought he won it fairly? All is eventually revealed at court so neither will wait long for answers, but what will also be revealed remains to be seen.
I can love a book series but, most often, the middle book will always be the least favourite child. This is not the case here! No lagging middle or setting up for future action occurred and, instead, this steadily built upon the political unrest and brooding romance laid out in book one and also incorporated new and previously unforeseen threats and side quests to make even more of a tense and enjoyable read! This is a stellar fantasy romance series and writing this review has me longing to revisit the world all over again!
Kat sought to free herself from her debts by coming to the fae court but she never knew her heart was up for sale also. She offered it to the highest bidder and is now unsure if she can trust what he will do with it.
Bastian has been played by Kat but what games is he playing in return and is she right to be holding her heart hostage from him when he thought he won it fairly? All is eventually revealed at court so neither will wait long for answers, but what will also be revealed remains to be seen.
I can love a book series but, most often, the middle book will always be the least favourite child. This is not the case here! No lagging middle or setting up for future action occurred and, instead, this steadily built upon the political unrest and brooding romance laid out in book one and also incorporated new and previously unforeseen threats and side quests to make even more of a tense and enjoyable read! This is a stellar fantasy romance series and writing this review has me longing to revisit the world all over again!
October 22, 2023
I loved the first book but the second was a little disappointing.
The story was a little expected. It’s 700 pages about if the two main characters are going to be together or not. And we all know they want to …
So basically it’s a lot of poor excuses and poor judgment. And not a lot of real problems.
You may find that I’m hard with this book because .. This is a good book (good characters, well written etc ) … but I expected a lot more from this author after the first book.
i hope the third book is better …
The story was a little expected. It’s 700 pages about if the two main characters are going to be together or not. And we all know they want to …
So basically it’s a lot of poor excuses and poor judgment. And not a lot of real problems.
You may find that I’m hard with this book because .. This is a good book (good characters, well written etc ) … but I expected a lot more from this author after the first book.
i hope the third book is better …
January 16, 2025
Bummer. Found the second half of this one a total yawn fest with highly improbable nonsense woven through. Turns out the slow burn was the best part and once that had passed, well, it's all just a bit blah.
April 23, 2024
This book was a breath of fresh air in the romantasy genre, offering up a world so rich and characters so intriguing, I could barely put it down.
My overall ratings:
🫶🏽 Plot - 5/5
🫶🏽 World Building - 5/5
🫶🏽 Characters - 5/5
🫶🏽 Spice - 2/5 (It had its moments, but the slow burn really set the stage for more than just bedroom eyes.)
🫶🏽 Pace - 3/5
Kat, our leading lady, isn't just strong—she's a force of nature. Unapologetically powerful and not just there to win favor or hearts. She's real, raw, and just the hero we needed. Bastian, our MMC, steps up as a new kind of book boyfriend; he's got layers, secrets, and a charm that’s dangerously addictive.
FUCK THEY’RE SO GOOD TOGETHER.
I AM SOBBING.
I CANT WAIT FOR BOOK 3.
My overall ratings:
🫶🏽 Plot - 5/5
🫶🏽 World Building - 5/5
🫶🏽 Characters - 5/5
🫶🏽 Spice - 2/5 (It had its moments, but the slow burn really set the stage for more than just bedroom eyes.)
🫶🏽 Pace - 3/5
Kat, our leading lady, isn't just strong—she's a force of nature. Unapologetically powerful and not just there to win favor or hearts. She's real, raw, and just the hero we needed. Bastian, our MMC, steps up as a new kind of book boyfriend; he's got layers, secrets, and a charm that’s dangerously addictive.
FUCK THEY’RE SO GOOD TOGETHER.
I AM SOBBING.
I CANT WAIT FOR BOOK 3.
November 3, 2023
This was a really well done sequel to A Kiss of Iron.
After the fall out from the ending of book one, we had a new world and a lot of healing to do for our two main characters, Kat and Bastian. Their healing was handled beautifully.
There were quite a number of spooky scenes in this book. The Horrors were aptly named. And the scenes with the scientist/doctor/healer had me feeling so deeply uncomfortable (be warned if you have medical trauma).
Kat experiences some pretty hefty trauma and huge growth in this book and it was beautiful to see!
Things I didn’t love:
I had a few issues with this book, none of it do with the content of the book - because it’s all there and I love it all - and more that the content was misplaced or not paced in a way that made the story move in a quick and compelling way (mind, I was feeling very slumpy whilst reading). The beginning 50% felt like it could’ve been tightened up and had some of the post 50% scenes inserted into it to keep it moving. It became highly repetitive at times during the narratives of her marriage especially.
Overall this was a 4.25 ⭐️ book and I would absolutely recommend starting this series if you haven’t already.
Frequency/Steam 🔥: 🔥🔥/5
Creativity/Kink 💡: 💡💡💡/5
Explicitness/Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
After the fall out from the ending of book one, we had a new world and a lot of healing to do for our two main characters, Kat and Bastian. Their healing was handled beautifully.
There were quite a number of spooky scenes in this book. The Horrors were aptly named. And the scenes with the scientist/doctor/healer had me feeling so deeply uncomfortable (be warned if you have medical trauma).
Kat experiences some pretty hefty trauma and huge growth in this book and it was beautiful to see!
Things I didn’t love:
I had a few issues with this book, none of it do with the content of the book - because it’s all there and I love it all - and more that the content was misplaced or not paced in a way that made the story move in a quick and compelling way (mind, I was feeling very slumpy whilst reading). The beginning 50% felt like it could’ve been tightened up and had some of the post 50% scenes inserted into it to keep it moving. It became highly repetitive at times during the narratives of her marriage especially.
Overall this was a 4.25 ⭐️ book and I would absolutely recommend starting this series if you haven’t already.
Frequency/Steam 🔥: 🔥🔥/5
Creativity/Kink 💡: 💡💡💡/5
Explicitness/Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
October 10, 2023
Rating: 5 "what was THAT ENDING" ✨
Spice: 3.25 "good girl" 🌶
I would like to thank the author for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review is voluntary & honest.
GAH, this book was absolutely INCREDIBLE. And that ending? I will not be over it ANY TIME SOON. It left me at the edge of my seat after having thrown my kindle, wondering how I will survive until book 3 is in my hands.
I mean, this book has got angst, forbidden romance, Fae courts & court intrigue, twists & turns that will have you wondering who can be trusted, and who is the enemy. The way Clare took us from the human lands into Elfhame and built this world so incredibly. The world development was done amazingly, it wasn't too much information at once, it all felt like knowledge we gained effortlessly. I was intrigued by the world; the new characters introduced & it made you fall in love with some while remaining suspicious of others. I enjoyed the WHOLE ride & did not want to put this book down if I could help it.
My Queen Katherine's development was TOP TIER. She went through it in book one & the events in this book weren't any easier on her. But the way she rose above all of it? The strength she found within herself, her road of self-discovery to finding how powerful she truly was & always had been. I was cheering her on, rooting for her throughout her whole journey. And her development with Bastian? The gasps I gusped. The screams I scrumed. The SCREECHES I LET OUT.
Bastian, MR. TOP TIER SHADOW DADDY! I, with no regrets or reservations, fell EVEN HARDER for this man. He is seriously a blueprint for the perfect MMC. We've got an intimidating man, who is soft only for her. A man of loyalty & rules & yet he will break them all for her. A man who is irrevocably a goner who the one he loves & will protect her at all costs. He's such an intriguing character, who at the moment is so conflicted with what he thinks he's always knows & this different reality he is being forced to face. The development he will go through in the next book, the final one in the trilogy, will be incredible, I just KNOW It.
The spice? It was spicing & the screams I let out almost left me with no voice. Regrets? NONE. But this one was definitely for us ✨praise girlies✨🫡 Bastian FED us in this one.
Ella, Rose, Faolan, Lysander, Ariadne, Asher & Perry, this group of friends OWN MY HEART. Other characters were also introduced that now also hold a place in my heart & I will fully root for. I am counting down the days until book 3 excitedly, but also very stressed. With that being said, I 100% recommend this book & trilogy! 💜
Spice: 3.25 "good girl" 🌶
I would like to thank the author for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review is voluntary & honest.
GAH, this book was absolutely INCREDIBLE. And that ending? I will not be over it ANY TIME SOON. It left me at the edge of my seat after having thrown my kindle, wondering how I will survive until book 3 is in my hands.
I mean, this book has got angst, forbidden romance, Fae courts & court intrigue, twists & turns that will have you wondering who can be trusted, and who is the enemy. The way Clare took us from the human lands into Elfhame and built this world so incredibly. The world development was done amazingly, it wasn't too much information at once, it all felt like knowledge we gained effortlessly. I was intrigued by the world; the new characters introduced & it made you fall in love with some while remaining suspicious of others. I enjoyed the WHOLE ride & did not want to put this book down if I could help it.
My Queen Katherine's development was TOP TIER. She went through it in book one & the events in this book weren't any easier on her. But the way she rose above all of it? The strength she found within herself, her road of self-discovery to finding how powerful she truly was & always had been. I was cheering her on, rooting for her throughout her whole journey. And her development with Bastian? The gasps I gusped. The screams I scrumed. The SCREECHES I LET OUT.
Bastian, MR. TOP TIER SHADOW DADDY! I, with no regrets or reservations, fell EVEN HARDER for this man. He is seriously a blueprint for the perfect MMC. We've got an intimidating man, who is soft only for her. A man of loyalty & rules & yet he will break them all for her. A man who is irrevocably a goner who the one he loves & will protect her at all costs. He's such an intriguing character, who at the moment is so conflicted with what he thinks he's always knows & this different reality he is being forced to face. The development he will go through in the next book, the final one in the trilogy, will be incredible, I just KNOW It.
The spice? It was spicing & the screams I let out almost left me with no voice. Regrets? NONE. But this one was definitely for us ✨praise girlies✨🫡 Bastian FED us in this one.
Ella, Rose, Faolan, Lysander, Ariadne, Asher & Perry, this group of friends OWN MY HEART. Other characters were also introduced that now also hold a place in my heart & I will fully root for. I am counting down the days until book 3 excitedly, but also very stressed. With that being said, I 100% recommend this book & trilogy! 💜
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